Development and Validation of Perceived Psychological Distance Response Scale for Married Individuals

Several tools have been developed to assess coping, which measure broad stress management strategies, whereas the experience and expression of relational regulatory processes, such as distancing, within South Asian marital systems have been undermeasured. The current study aimed to develop and assess the Perceived Psychological Distance Scale (PPDS) for married men and women. A sample of 251 married men and women with an age range of 25 to 40 years (M= 33.49 and SD= 4.81) was selected through a purposive sampling technique from different workplaces of the city of Lahore, Pakistan. PPDS was constructed by extracting items from open-ended interviews with married men and women, reviewing the literature, consulting the experts, and carrying out pilot testing. Factor Analysis using Maximum Likelihood (ML) with Promax Rotation extracted two sub-factors, namely Emotional Focus Distancing and Behavior Focus Distancing. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good fit model with a similar factor structure as retained by exploratory factor analysis. PPDS was found to have 27-items and two sub factors; Emotion Focus Distancing (α=0.92) and Behavior Focus Distancing (α=0.88). The scales showed good construct validity with the Romantic Partner Conflict Scale. The current study used a construct-focused psychometric approach to operationalize perceived psychological distancing as a distinct relational regulatory process. Despite its surface similarities with coping structure, it measures culturally specific distancing processes within regional marital contexts.